Janvier, Levi, Dd

Janvier, Levi, D.D.

a Presbyterian minister, born at Pittsgrove, N. J. April 25, 1816, graduated at Princeton College with the highest honors of his class in 1835, and then pursued a theological course of study at Princeton Seminary, teaching at the same time in Lafayette College, where he so ably discharged his duties that he was urged to accept a professorship. But Janvier preferred the missionary work, and he was licensed and ordained by the West Jersey Presbytery, his father, also a minister, preaching on the occasion. He went to India; and there was for several years superintendent of the mission press; he also prepared a translation of the Pentateuch and Psalms into Punjabi, and aided in the preparation of a Punjabi dictionary and other works in this department. Impaired health obliged him to seek recreation. and he came on a visit to his native country in 1859. In 1860 he returned again to the missionary work, but he continued only a short time to serve his Master here on earth: March 25, 1864, he was murdered by a Sikh at Anandpore, India. "He was a missionary of a high order; learned, wise, gentle, humble, winning; whose loving, benevolent life preached most touchingly the Gospel of his Master," was the testimony of one of the papers of India after the assassination of Mr. Janvier. Another colaborer (the Rev. J. T. Gracey) wrote to the Methodist, New York, in April, 1864, that "great excitement prevailed among the people," and that Janvier's funeral "was attended, with marked respect, by thousands of natives." See Wilson, Presb. Hist. Alie. 1866, p. 117 sq. (J.H.W.)